Alupka, Russia

Capital City

With a population of just 9,063, Alupka is hardly the bustling resort town its promotional materials would have you believe. Situated 17 kilometers west of Yalta, this former Greek settlement is dominated by the extravagant Vorontsov Palace, a Neo-Moorish behemoth built for a Russian prince in the 1800s. While the palace and its landscaped gardens draw tourists, the bureaucracy surrounding travel and residency in this Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine is a persistent headache. And despite its subtropical climate, the city's limited public transport options and remote location make it a poor choice for those seeking an easy, seamless life abroad.